Closing device



Aug. 5, 1969 R. HUDSON 3,458,969

CLOSING DEVICE Filed March 30, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 By DOYLE R. HUDSON D. R. HUDSON Aug. 5, 1969 CLOSING DEVICE Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 50, 1967 INVENTOR.

oom- R. nuosou A T TORNE V United States Patent Office 3,458,969 CLOSING DEVICE Doyle R. Hudson, Le Compte, La., assignor to Olinkraft, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 627,040 Int. Cl. B65b 61/18, 61/00 US. Cl. 53-137 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Recently, the dairy industry has begun to distribute milk in disposable plastic bags, each bag being supported and contained in a corrugated fibreboard container or an outer housing of flexible material, see US. Patent 3,206,105, for example. This presents numerous advantages, for example, there is no problem of returns and sterilization of glass or metal containers and no problem of having to use glass or metal containers and take special care of them. The disposable bag, which is characteristically of a fairly light weight polyethylene, is sterilized at the time of manufacture and is delivered in the sterile condition. The disposable bags are easily stored before use, fully collapsed and flat, and are still flat when delivered to the filling machine.

In preparation of the assembled and filled bag, one must perform many operations in order to get the assembly in final form suitable for delivery to the consumer. Naturally, in order to be economically profitable, these numerous operations should be automated, should be performed rapidly, should utilize a small amount of manual labor, and should utilize mechanical devices relatively simple in operation.

One particular operation has caused dilficulty. Namely, in the preparation of the assembled product, the filled, disposable plastic bag is inserted in an outer housing of flexible material, preferably kraft paper. The open mouth of the outer kraft housing must be closed, a reinforcing tape positioned thereover, and the reinforcing tape firmly afiixed thereto. A carrying handle may then be formed from the reinforcing tape.

All of these operations must be done rapidly, automatically and accurately in a simple device which utilizes relatively little manual labor.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple device which automatically and rapidly performs the following operations: closes the open mouth of a filled paper bag, feeds and positions a reinforcing tape thereover, and firmly secures the tape to the closed mouth, thereby tightly closing said bag.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device as aforesaid which is suitable for commercial operations and which utilizes a relatively small amount of manual labor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, which are partly diagrammatic, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, with portions cut away;

3,458,969 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 FIGURE 3 is a front view of one portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 in two stages of operation; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top view of one portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, reinforcing tape 10 on storage roll 11 is fed by feed means, such as mating rolls 12 and 13 mounted on housing 14 in spaced rela tion to storage roll 11. Tape roll 11 is mounted on housing 14 and optional tape follower 15 mounted on housing 14 maintains tape 10 in the desired alignment. Tape 10 is preferably of a cardboard type of heavy consistency so that it will readily support the full weight of the completed assembly.

To start the tape feed, tape 10 is placed between mating rolls 12 and 13. Mating roll 12 may be pressure loaded so that it moves away from mating engagement with mating roll 13 in order to facilitate the loading of tape 10 therebetween.

Mating rolls 12 and 13 tightly interengage so that they positively feed tape 10 off tape roll 11 at the desired rate. In addition, mating rolls 12 and 13 are scored to downwardly infold tape 10 and thus commence the positioning of tape 10 over the closed mouth of the bag assembly. Naturally, the feeding and scoring operations may be performed by separate rolls, if desired. However, it has been found to be preferred to combine these functions in a single set of rolls. Also, if desired, the feeding means may be integral with tape roll 11.

Mating rolls 12 and 13 also serve as a folding means to downwardly fold tape 10 in that mating roll 12 is a male score roll and mating roll 13 is a female score roll, note in FIGURE 1 groove 16 located centrally of roll 13 and in FIGURE 2 note male member 17. As tape 10 is fed through mating rolls 12 and 13, the tape is scored centrally thereof from the bottom to form a crown on the tape and downwardly fold the edges of the tape.

Shaft 20 passes through and is affixed to roll 12. Roll 13 is rotatably mounted in housing 14 via shaft 21. Shaft 21 passes through and is aflixed to roll 13. Gear 22 is operatively connected to shaft 21 via overriding clutch 23 which in turn is afiixed to drive shaft 20. Overriding clutch 23 is keyed to shaft 21. Gear 22 is mounted securely to hub of clutch 23. Gear 22 is operatively connected to and turned by piston rod 24 which is actuated by hydraulic or air cylinder 25 mounted on housing 14. Clutch 23 is a one-way clutch which allows roll 13 to turn and feed up to required amount of tape 10 on the forward stroke of piston rod 24 and cylinder 25. The clutch allows piston rod 24 to return to starting position without backward rotation of roll 13. Piston rod 24 is connected to rack 40. Moving rack 40 15 an extension of piston rod 24 which moves under gear 22 and roll 13 to feed out tape, and also to feed out cut tape via finger plate 41 and fingers 42 to closing plates 52 and 53, discussed below. Piston rod 24 then retracts, retracting rack 40 and rotating gear 22 in reverse. Overriding clutch 23 allows reverse rotation of gear 22 without turning roll 13 in reverse.

Note that shaft 21 extends outwardly past gear 22 to allow manual movement of roll 13 by means of a crank, wrench or hand roll.

It is preferred that one stroke of piston rod 24 be used to turn roll 13 one complete revolution and to feed up the required amount of tape. Naturally, the stroke could be timed to feed up any desired length of tape.

During the feeding of the tape 10, the filled bags 26 are moving underneath the tape, going into position to receive the folded tape. The filled bags are continuously feeding on conveyor means 27 from a loading station, not shown, and are moving into position to be closed.

The tape is then fed through reducing bars 31 and 32 which are flared outwardly at 33 and 34 to receive the tape. Bars 31 and 32 have guide means to prevent the tape from slipping upwardly, as by extensions 35 and 36 afiixed to the upper portion thereof, or grooves on the internal faces thereof, or both. When the required length of tape has been fed into position, as determined and actuated by one stroke of piston rod 24, cutting means, such as cut-off knife 37, cuts-off the required length of tape and forms cut tape portion 38. The knife 37 may be mounted in a conventional manner, not shown. Bars 31 and 32 are progressively closer together to slightly fold out tape portion 38 in a downwardly direction.

As stated hereinabove, piston rod 24 actuates rack 40 which carries finger plate 41 which in turn carries pusher fingers 42 pivotally mounted on pivot 43 and spring supported via spring 44. Pusher fingers 42 are mounted so that on the return stroke of rack 40 they ride beneath cut tape portion 38 and beneath table 45. Since they are spring loaded, when they clear the back of table 45, they come up behind the cut tape 38. Pusher finger grooves 46 seat around cut tape 38 so that finger 42 will not slip off and will positively move cut tape 38 forward on the forward stroke of piston rod 24 into matching grooves 50 and 51 on the sides of closing plates 52 and 53, shown clearly in FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show the detailed operation of the closing plates. After cut tape portion 38 is fed into matching grooves 50 and 51, closing plates 52 and 53 close out tape portion around the closed mouth of bag 26 and sealing means, such as staple mechanism 54 firmly seals the tape 38 on top of bag 26, thus tightly sealing the bag assembly.

Thus, the moveable fingers 42 together with moveable plates 52 and 53 comprise a positioning means for positioning the cut tape 38 over folded bag.

Back-up pin 55 carried on closing plate 52 prevents cut tape portion 38 from sliding out of position. Note when closing plates 52 and 53 are in the closed position, shown also in FIGURE 3, back-up pin 55 projects through opening 56 in closing plate 53.

Closing plates 52 and 53 open and close on pivots 57 and 58, respectively. The opening and closing functions are performed by roller assemblies 59 and 60. Roller assemblies 59 and 60 contain earn roller mounting plates 61 and 62 afiixed to closing plates 52 and 53, respectively, cam rollers 63 and 64 carried by mounting plates 61 and 62 and cam followers 65 and 66 affixed to mounting plates 61 and 62. In operation, as cam rollers 63 and 64 move downwardly, cam followers 65 and 66 force rollers 63 and 64 inwardly exerting pressure on cam roller mounting plates 61 and 62 and wedging said plates together. Cam rollers may be actuated by any desired means, such as hydraulic cylinder 67 mounted on anchor plate 68 and cylinder mounting bracket 69 connected to frame 70.

The staple mechanisms 54 are actuated by air actuating cylinders 71, with staple anvils 72 in mounting bar 73 mounted on closing plate 53 adjacent each staple mechanism 54. Staple adjusting screws 74 are provided to adjust the staple mechanisms, with staple magazine 75 and staple follower 76 carried on staple mechanism 54.

Bag clamp or forming bars 77 and 78 above said conveyor means 27 close and form the top of bag 26 preparatory to cut tape section 38 being fed on top of bag 26. Staple mechanisms 54 are automatically actuated by actuating cylinders 71 when closing plates 52 and 53 are in the closed position, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The sealed and closed bag may then be fed to a loading station or handle forming station, if desired.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying a strip of sealing tape over closed ends of bags, said device comprising:

(a) roll means operative to accommodate a supply of sealing tape;

(b) feed means operative to remove said tape from said roll means at a predetermined rate;

(c) scoring means associated with said feed means, said scoring means 'being operative to form a fold line on said tape;

(d) guide means downstream of said scoring means, said guide means being operative to initiate folding of said tape about said fold line;

(e) reciprocating drive means, said drive means being movable through a work stroke and return;

(f) clutch means operatively interconnecting said drive means with said feed means, said clutch means serving to actuate said feed means during the work stroke of said drive means, and said clutch means further being operative to deactivate said feed means during the return stroke of said drive means;

(g) cutting means interposed between said scoring means and said guide means, said cutting means being operative to sever predetermined lengths of scored and initially folded tape;

(h) movable finger means operably connected to said drive means and disposed downstream of said cutting means, said finger means being operable to advance severed lengths of said tape toward said bags during the work stroke of said drive means; and

(i) plate means downstream of said finger means, said plate means being operable to receive said severed lengths of tape from said finger means and fold said severed lengths of tape over said closed ends of said bags.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising sealing means mounted on said plate means, said sealing means being operable to secure said lengths of tape to said closed ends of said bags.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a piston and a toothed rack, and said clutch means comprises a gear driven by said toothed rack.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising conveyor means located below said plate means, said conveyor means being operable to move said bags into position below said plate means to receive said lengths of tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,871,701 8/1932 Jones 53137 2,697,533 12/1954 Richard 53-137 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-138 

